This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives. (1 John 1:5-10)
So today is the second day of looking at the same scripture. This is kinda fun so far. I like the idea of breaking it down like this. Of course I'm only supposed to preach on one verse (no I won't tell you which just yet) so I have yet to determine if any of this will make it, but I do want to have a deeper understanding of the context anyway.
Yesterday I wrote about the Light of God (I like capitalizing things, have you figured that out?) So today might seem like a bit of a bummer, but we really must follow up the Light with the Lie. Do you live in the light? Let's make this really easy: If you do anything at all where you're grateful for darkness (Except developing film or watching the stars) or where you find yourself looking around first to make sure that no one is looking... well chances are you're not living totally in the light. You're actually hanging out in the shadows a bit. So if you try to say "Yes, I do live in the light, I'm a follower of Jesus and I just love him to bits and pieces" and you go home at night and watch "just a little" porn or call a friend to "keep her up on the news of the area" or take home "just a few reams of paper" from work... well, my friend, from one liar to another--that is NOT living in the light.
I have learned to justify my actions so very well that it's actually a problem. Let me give you a hint: if you start your "reasoning" for doing something by saying "But I feel" or "But I deserve" or even just the word "but," you're looking for a shadow to hide in. Your brain, your heart, and the Holy Spirit inside you are actually pretty good at telling you when you're doing or about to do something that's against God's will. What's crazy, however, is our ability to completely forget that the Light of God is ubiquitous. It's always "on" and it's always everywhere, shining into the corners and through walls. While the star around which this planet revolves is a good image to use for God and His glory, we must not forget that it is the smallest fraction of the reality that is the Great I AM, the Alpha and Omega.
So, is it possible to live entirely in the light? Heck no! Not unless you're Jesus of Nazareth, born of the virgin Mary. You know it's not possible, I know it's not possible, God knows it's not possible. But does that mean we give up? That we give in to temptation because we're going to sin anyway? Or must we always flagellate ourselves and cry out to God "we're not worthy, we're sinful scum, we should be punished for our sins." (All of which is true, by the way.)
I don't think so.Without trying to get too ahead of myself here, may I just point out one thing: This verse never says "stop sinning." It says "You're a liar if you say that you don't sin."
So is God concerning Himself with your sin, or your attitude about it?
Hmmm. Words for thought, eh? I'll follow up with more tomorrow. :)
April 20, 2010
April 19, 2010
Live in the Light
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives. (1 John 1:5-10)
Hello again! I took about a week off from my devotionals, ironically because I'm going through a tough spot, and instead of bathing myself in the word I chose to sleep later. I don't want to get into all of that just now, I feel as though it will work itself out over the next few days. But today I'm going to start doing a study of this particular passage, and I might keep at it for a few days. I have to teach a short sermon on one verse in here, and I figure I could use a few days to dwell on it in context. So, let's get started.
God is light. When I think about that, I get this image of a Person so great and big and with the very sun shining out of Him that you can't hardly even see his outline. It's kindof a cool mental image I have. We've often seen pictures of Jesus where he's haloed by light, and you have to wonder where that light comes from. Well, "from God" would be a good guess.
But where is that light going to? Now that's a question for us. That light is coming straight at us. You can't stand close enough to God for His light to be that gloriously bright and not be bathed in it yourself.
So what does that light feel like, and what does it do? Well, as God is, I believe that light is multidimensional. In other words, it is able to do more than one thing at once. I think the Light of God is warming and soothing, much like the feeling you get on the first nice day of summer when you just lay yourself down outside and soak up the warmth. But I also think the Light of God is a light so concentrated and directed that it cuts into us, into the very innermost beings of us, and doesn't leave anything ignored. This is a light that is not stopped by clothing, or the walls we hide behind. And it sees everything.
Well shoot. Suddenly my list of sins seems longer.
That's the "down side" to having the Light of God directed at us. God sees everything about us, even those secret sins that we've done such a good job of rationalizing that we don't even recognize them any more.
But God does.
Because with His Light are His Eyes. He will look at everything on which His Light shines. (Which, by the way, is everyhing in the world, but we'll leave that for another day.) So when this light shines into the very innermost depths of our being, so too goes His sight. So God knows. He knows it alllll. You don't have to confess your sins in order for God to know what they are--He can see them plain as day.
Did you think that when the lights turned off, when the world spun you away from the sun, that you could do whatever you wanted?
Because the Light of God doesn't concern itself with things like steel, bricks, mortar, earth, rock, or magma. And, the Light of God doesn't come from the star around which our planet rotates. It comes from God, who is everywhere. Hm.
So what matters most is this: knowing that you live in the Light of God, the light that sees everything and knows everything that it sees, how do you live?
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives. (1 John 1:5-10)
Hello again! I took about a week off from my devotionals, ironically because I'm going through a tough spot, and instead of bathing myself in the word I chose to sleep later. I don't want to get into all of that just now, I feel as though it will work itself out over the next few days. But today I'm going to start doing a study of this particular passage, and I might keep at it for a few days. I have to teach a short sermon on one verse in here, and I figure I could use a few days to dwell on it in context. So, let's get started.
God is light. When I think about that, I get this image of a Person so great and big and with the very sun shining out of Him that you can't hardly even see his outline. It's kindof a cool mental image I have. We've often seen pictures of Jesus where he's haloed by light, and you have to wonder where that light comes from. Well, "from God" would be a good guess.
But where is that light going to? Now that's a question for us. That light is coming straight at us. You can't stand close enough to God for His light to be that gloriously bright and not be bathed in it yourself.
So what does that light feel like, and what does it do? Well, as God is, I believe that light is multidimensional. In other words, it is able to do more than one thing at once. I think the Light of God is warming and soothing, much like the feeling you get on the first nice day of summer when you just lay yourself down outside and soak up the warmth. But I also think the Light of God is a light so concentrated and directed that it cuts into us, into the very innermost beings of us, and doesn't leave anything ignored. This is a light that is not stopped by clothing, or the walls we hide behind. And it sees everything.
Well shoot. Suddenly my list of sins seems longer.
That's the "down side" to having the Light of God directed at us. God sees everything about us, even those secret sins that we've done such a good job of rationalizing that we don't even recognize them any more.
But God does.
Because with His Light are His Eyes. He will look at everything on which His Light shines. (Which, by the way, is everyhing in the world, but we'll leave that for another day.) So when this light shines into the very innermost depths of our being, so too goes His sight. So God knows. He knows it alllll. You don't have to confess your sins in order for God to know what they are--He can see them plain as day.
Did you think that when the lights turned off, when the world spun you away from the sun, that you could do whatever you wanted?
Because the Light of God doesn't concern itself with things like steel, bricks, mortar, earth, rock, or magma. And, the Light of God doesn't come from the star around which our planet rotates. It comes from God, who is everywhere. Hm.
So what matters most is this: knowing that you live in the Light of God, the light that sees everything and knows everything that it sees, how do you live?
April 7, 2010
Like a Child
"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." (Mark 10:14-15)
If you've studied the Bible or attended church for long enough, you've probably heard or read countless teachings on this. So I may not have anything new to add. I will, however, give you my thoughts.
Children are probably the most rule-aware subset of humans. You may not believe this, but they are. They are rule-aware because children are still trying to figure out the world around them, so they do their best to catalog everything they see and hear. Thus people are generally only "good" or "bad," because they do not have the mental subtleties to see the gray area.
This is quite clear in language. Children who grow up speaking English are stuck with attempting to figure out a language which is based on both the Romance and Germanic tongues, each with their own rationale. So it helps to know things like "I before E, except after C." But there are soooo many intricacies of the language which you and I take for granted now, because we've memorized it. But you will see a child attempting to follow the rules, and getting it all wrong, until they learn. (House-Houses verses Mouse-Mice, for example).
All that to say that when a child "learns right from wrong," they do not question it. Of course, a child's favorite question is often "why?" (typically because they like to have the rationale behind the rules they're learning), but you can often tell a child "Because that's what God teaches us" and they'll be content.
So if you take the time to teach your children God's commands, they will not only learn them, but they will parrot them back to you. Don't even think about lying in front of a child who has just learned that lying is wrong!
Many people read the above verse and talk about how we must be innocent as a child to get to heaven. This is true. But we must also be dilligent to learn God's laws and apply them to our own lives. And, really, children do this better than most any other age group. So you want to inherit in the Kingdom of God? Be like a child. Learn what is right and wrong, and stick to it.
If you've studied the Bible or attended church for long enough, you've probably heard or read countless teachings on this. So I may not have anything new to add. I will, however, give you my thoughts.
Children are probably the most rule-aware subset of humans. You may not believe this, but they are. They are rule-aware because children are still trying to figure out the world around them, so they do their best to catalog everything they see and hear. Thus people are generally only "good" or "bad," because they do not have the mental subtleties to see the gray area.
This is quite clear in language. Children who grow up speaking English are stuck with attempting to figure out a language which is based on both the Romance and Germanic tongues, each with their own rationale. So it helps to know things like "I before E, except after C." But there are soooo many intricacies of the language which you and I take for granted now, because we've memorized it. But you will see a child attempting to follow the rules, and getting it all wrong, until they learn. (House-Houses verses Mouse-Mice, for example).
All that to say that when a child "learns right from wrong," they do not question it. Of course, a child's favorite question is often "why?" (typically because they like to have the rationale behind the rules they're learning), but you can often tell a child "Because that's what God teaches us" and they'll be content.
So if you take the time to teach your children God's commands, they will not only learn them, but they will parrot them back to you. Don't even think about lying in front of a child who has just learned that lying is wrong!
Many people read the above verse and talk about how we must be innocent as a child to get to heaven. This is true. But we must also be dilligent to learn God's laws and apply them to our own lives. And, really, children do this better than most any other age group. So you want to inherit in the Kingdom of God? Be like a child. Learn what is right and wrong, and stick to it.
April 6, 2010
In This Moment
Jesus turned and saw her. "Take heart, daughter," he said, "your faith has healed you." And the woman was healed from that moment. (Matthew 9:22)
When does God work in our lives? Must we prove ourselves first? Jump through hoops? Fill out a request form? Wait until He "feels like it?"
For all that we must recognize that God works in His good timing, when He decides to do something now, it happens now. If God decides to grant healing, it will happen in a moment. If He decides to grant you favor, it will happen immediately upon His decision.
Sometimes we don't recognize this, because we may not know all the steps involved. Think about this: What if you're looking for a new job, and you pray and you pray and you pray for a new job, and six months later you finally get one, and it's perfect for you. Do you think God made you wait because He was putting you off? I don't think so. I believe if He chose that job for you, He was simply putting things into motion. Perhaps someone there had to reach retirement age, or secure their own job before they could leave.
God knows what we want before we ask for it, but He will often wait until we ask before He takes action. At that point, however, rest assured that things are happening towards His answer to your prayers.
Sometimes we will see the fruits of our prayer the instant we are done praying. And other times it may be months or even years later. But never doubt that God is working. This is why we should ask God our request, then thank Him for fulfilling it, because He is! If God's answer is yes, then He's on the job, then and there.
That's some good news, isn't it?
When does God work in our lives? Must we prove ourselves first? Jump through hoops? Fill out a request form? Wait until He "feels like it?"
For all that we must recognize that God works in His good timing, when He decides to do something now, it happens now. If God decides to grant healing, it will happen in a moment. If He decides to grant you favor, it will happen immediately upon His decision.
Sometimes we don't recognize this, because we may not know all the steps involved. Think about this: What if you're looking for a new job, and you pray and you pray and you pray for a new job, and six months later you finally get one, and it's perfect for you. Do you think God made you wait because He was putting you off? I don't think so. I believe if He chose that job for you, He was simply putting things into motion. Perhaps someone there had to reach retirement age, or secure their own job before they could leave.
God knows what we want before we ask for it, but He will often wait until we ask before He takes action. At that point, however, rest assured that things are happening towards His answer to your prayers.
Sometimes we will see the fruits of our prayer the instant we are done praying. And other times it may be months or even years later. But never doubt that God is working. This is why we should ask God our request, then thank Him for fulfilling it, because He is! If God's answer is yes, then He's on the job, then and there.
That's some good news, isn't it?
April 5, 2010
Look Straight
The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times." (Luke 22:61)
There are only 47 instances of the word "straight" in the NIV. And a fair few of the New Testament instances use this "then someone looked straight at someone else" phrase. It's really quite interesting to me, because it says in this verse that once the Lord (Jesus) looked at Peter, Peter remembered what Jesus had said to him earlier. And at this time Peter wasn't too terribly close to Jesus, because he was trying to save his own skin by denying he knew the man. And yet Jesus was able to turn and look directly at Peter, so there was no doubt at all whom he was addressing, even though Jesus didn't speak a single word.
God does the same thing for us even now. Maybe when we are in the midst of doing something we know to be wrong, someone we know will see us, or we will see someone else who is reaping the "rewards" of living a lifestyle that is out of the will of God, and this will suddenly look us straight in the face and say "This is what you are going to become if you do not change your ways."
Or maybe you'll see an advertisement for, say, soap, and a revelation from God will hit you right between the eyes. I have received God's word to me by looking at a tree.
The point here is this: God may not always say clear concise words in English (or your native tongue) when He wishes to speak to you, but He is always talking, always sharing His wisdom with us. And because we often forget to listen, He will slap us in the face with something or someone catching our attention in a way that will make our heart resonate with the knowledge that this is a revelation straight from God.
So keep your eyes open.
There are only 47 instances of the word "straight" in the NIV. And a fair few of the New Testament instances use this "then someone looked straight at someone else" phrase. It's really quite interesting to me, because it says in this verse that once the Lord (Jesus) looked at Peter, Peter remembered what Jesus had said to him earlier. And at this time Peter wasn't too terribly close to Jesus, because he was trying to save his own skin by denying he knew the man. And yet Jesus was able to turn and look directly at Peter, so there was no doubt at all whom he was addressing, even though Jesus didn't speak a single word.
God does the same thing for us even now. Maybe when we are in the midst of doing something we know to be wrong, someone we know will see us, or we will see someone else who is reaping the "rewards" of living a lifestyle that is out of the will of God, and this will suddenly look us straight in the face and say "This is what you are going to become if you do not change your ways."
Or maybe you'll see an advertisement for, say, soap, and a revelation from God will hit you right between the eyes. I have received God's word to me by looking at a tree.
The point here is this: God may not always say clear concise words in English (or your native tongue) when He wishes to speak to you, but He is always talking, always sharing His wisdom with us. And because we often forget to listen, He will slap us in the face with something or someone catching our attention in a way that will make our heart resonate with the knowledge that this is a revelation straight from God.
So keep your eyes open.
April 2, 2010
Have Compassion
When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. (Mark 6:34)
It is so very easy for us to think about nothing and no one but ourselves. We seek understanding and forgiveness from others, yet we hold them to a higher standard and judge them when they don't come through on our perceived "fair" expectations. Especially when the other person is not a believer, we judge them harshly, don't we, and compare ourselves to them. At least we're not like them, hooray for that.
But then you read something like the above verse. Jesus had compasssion on people because they did not have the knowledge and understanding of God. They did not have the hope that is found in Christ. So of course they could be bitter, selfish people. But what Jesus did is reach out to those people, where they were, in order to draw them in to a relationship with Him.
This is what we should always remember when we see people who do not know Christ, when they treat us in unfair ways, when they ridicule us even for who we believe in. We should remember that they have no shepherd in their life and instead of being proud of ourselves we should have compassion for them. Not pity or condenscension. Compassion.
Because someone had to have compassion for us, back before we knew Jesus.
And aren't we still full of ourselves even now? Perhaps people are treating us with extra compassion even though we know Christ. Don't we then owe it to others to be treated as we ourselves are?
Just chew on that for a day or so. :)
It is so very easy for us to think about nothing and no one but ourselves. We seek understanding and forgiveness from others, yet we hold them to a higher standard and judge them when they don't come through on our perceived "fair" expectations. Especially when the other person is not a believer, we judge them harshly, don't we, and compare ourselves to them. At least we're not like them, hooray for that.
But then you read something like the above verse. Jesus had compasssion on people because they did not have the knowledge and understanding of God. They did not have the hope that is found in Christ. So of course they could be bitter, selfish people. But what Jesus did is reach out to those people, where they were, in order to draw them in to a relationship with Him.
This is what we should always remember when we see people who do not know Christ, when they treat us in unfair ways, when they ridicule us even for who we believe in. We should remember that they have no shepherd in their life and instead of being proud of ourselves we should have compassion for them. Not pity or condenscension. Compassion.
Because someone had to have compassion for us, back before we knew Jesus.
And aren't we still full of ourselves even now? Perhaps people are treating us with extra compassion even though we know Christ. Don't we then owe it to others to be treated as we ourselves are?
Just chew on that for a day or so. :)
April 1, 2010
Do Not Fear What They Fear
"Do not fear what they fear" (1 Peter 3:14/Isaiah 8:12)
Ok, so who is "they" and what is it that they fear?
Does it help to have a bit more of the verse: Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened. But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." (1 Peter 3:13-15)
So, here's the deal. It's hard to be a Christian. It's super-hard to be counter-cultural, and yet God has called us to this. He "set us apart" for Himself. That means we are not as the world is. That means we're going to be fought against. Yes, fought against. In the spiritual realm as well as the physical.
Sucks, doesn't it?
I just had two great conversations yesterday with each half of the same couple. With one we touched on the concept of what it means to be counter-cultural, and with the other we discussed (among many other things) parallel situations that each of us are in where we feel as though we are being overlooked for favor that is being granted abundantly to other people.
So yeah. Separate, set apart, and shat on.
(Look it up. It's the past tense.)
But that's the way it is. Ok, Jesus never said "thou shalt be shat upon," but I think you get the gist of it in the other stuff He said. He said it wasn't going to be easy. He said that His follwers were going to be mocked, ridiculed, harmed and even killed for following Him.
So then here comes this statement: "Do not fear what they fear." It's something that was said alllll the way back in Isaiah as well. Kinda makes you think that there's something going on in the world against the Chosen Ones, eh?
But back to the question: who is "they" and what do they fear?
In the context of 1 Peter, Christians had been scattered about Rome. They were being persecuted and killed. I believe that "they" is the Roman mob, and what "they" feared is being counter-cultural. Being less than Roman. Ironically Rome was a total melting pot of cultures and ideas by this point, and yet Christians found themselves then in the place where Christians in America seem to be as well: we live in a land that is so open to new ideas that it does not accept a belief system built on "I am the way, and the truth, and the life."
So what did they fear? The Roman mob. The culture turning against them. Even good little Roman citizens had to fear Roman persecution if they stood out from or went against culture.
So this is where the Christians are told "Do not fear." Peter doesn't, sadly, say "Don't worry God will protect you, nothing will happen." Nope, he said "Yeah, it's gonna kinda suck. But here's the deal. Don't be afraid of it. Have your hope in Jesus." And furthermore, in a somewhat well-known verse, Peter goes on to tell people to always be prepared to tell people about the source of their hope. Which means they have to have hope--even through the persecution!
What does this mean to me today? It means that I can't be afraid of being seen as different, that I was created to be counter-cultural so when I stick out like a sore thumb I may as well be ok with it. And that means that when people see me and know that I am a Christian, I should desire that they would also see the hope that is in me. Hope in the knowledge that this isn't it. If I don't get a promotion, if I lose all my friends, if I get persecuted against, I still have eternity. Because this is just temporary. So I don't have to be afraid of living with pain or sorrow because compared to forever, this is a short time.
And that, my friends, is what "they" fear. "They" fear that this is a one-shot deal, that they only have one chance to live, and as such they have to "fit in" with the societal norms, because they need to have as successful a life as possible, because this is it. There are no second chances with unbelievers.
But we know that, through Christ, not only do we get another shot at existence after death, but we get a guaranteed awesome one that will never end.
So do not fear what "they" fear. Remember that this is only temporary, and have hope. Live out that hope, and you will maybe show "them" a better way. And maybe, just maybe, they'll start wanting what you have. And you can give them hope too.
Ok, so who is "they" and what is it that they fear?
Does it help to have a bit more of the verse: Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened. But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." (1 Peter 3:13-15)
So, here's the deal. It's hard to be a Christian. It's super-hard to be counter-cultural, and yet God has called us to this. He "set us apart" for Himself. That means we are not as the world is. That means we're going to be fought against. Yes, fought against. In the spiritual realm as well as the physical.
Sucks, doesn't it?
I just had two great conversations yesterday with each half of the same couple. With one we touched on the concept of what it means to be counter-cultural, and with the other we discussed (among many other things) parallel situations that each of us are in where we feel as though we are being overlooked for favor that is being granted abundantly to other people.
So yeah. Separate, set apart, and shat on.
(Look it up. It's the past tense.)
But that's the way it is. Ok, Jesus never said "thou shalt be shat upon," but I think you get the gist of it in the other stuff He said. He said it wasn't going to be easy. He said that His follwers were going to be mocked, ridiculed, harmed and even killed for following Him.
So then here comes this statement: "Do not fear what they fear." It's something that was said alllll the way back in Isaiah as well. Kinda makes you think that there's something going on in the world against the Chosen Ones, eh?
But back to the question: who is "they" and what do they fear?
In the context of 1 Peter, Christians had been scattered about Rome. They were being persecuted and killed. I believe that "they" is the Roman mob, and what "they" feared is being counter-cultural. Being less than Roman. Ironically Rome was a total melting pot of cultures and ideas by this point, and yet Christians found themselves then in the place where Christians in America seem to be as well: we live in a land that is so open to new ideas that it does not accept a belief system built on "I am the way, and the truth, and the life."
So what did they fear? The Roman mob. The culture turning against them. Even good little Roman citizens had to fear Roman persecution if they stood out from or went against culture.
So this is where the Christians are told "Do not fear." Peter doesn't, sadly, say "Don't worry God will protect you, nothing will happen." Nope, he said "Yeah, it's gonna kinda suck. But here's the deal. Don't be afraid of it. Have your hope in Jesus." And furthermore, in a somewhat well-known verse, Peter goes on to tell people to always be prepared to tell people about the source of their hope. Which means they have to have hope--even through the persecution!
What does this mean to me today? It means that I can't be afraid of being seen as different, that I was created to be counter-cultural so when I stick out like a sore thumb I may as well be ok with it. And that means that when people see me and know that I am a Christian, I should desire that they would also see the hope that is in me. Hope in the knowledge that this isn't it. If I don't get a promotion, if I lose all my friends, if I get persecuted against, I still have eternity. Because this is just temporary. So I don't have to be afraid of living with pain or sorrow because compared to forever, this is a short time.
And that, my friends, is what "they" fear. "They" fear that this is a one-shot deal, that they only have one chance to live, and as such they have to "fit in" with the societal norms, because they need to have as successful a life as possible, because this is it. There are no second chances with unbelievers.
But we know that, through Christ, not only do we get another shot at existence after death, but we get a guaranteed awesome one that will never end.
So do not fear what "they" fear. Remember that this is only temporary, and have hope. Live out that hope, and you will maybe show "them" a better way. And maybe, just maybe, they'll start wanting what you have. And you can give them hope too.
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